Maryland's Own 'DREAM' Tuition Act

This month Senator Victor Ramirez (D-MD) is expected to introduce a proposal to the General Assembly that if passed would offer illegal immigrants in Maryland who attended state high school for two years and whose parents pay taxes – IN-STATE TUITION.

Supporters of the bill explain it is suppose to encourage students who went to high school in Maryland to continue their education in college even if they are illegal immigrants. Back in 2003, Governor Robert Ehrlich Jr. (R) vetoed a similar bill, but supporters are hopeful that if it’s approved by the General Assembly, current Governor Martin O’Malley (D) will view the bill more sympathetically. California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Utah have already passed in-state tuition measures for illegal immigrants. Although a law barring all states from offering in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants unless the offer was given all across the country was passed in 1996, states have been able to pass in-state tuition measures by linking it to their attendance to a state high school. Not everyone in Maryland is likely to pass the proposed measure though, Delegate Patrick L. Donough (R-MD) recently called for an investigation into Montgomery College and their tuition benefits to undocumented workers.

MVP Law Group is hopeful Senator Victor Ramirez’s Maryland DREAM Act will pass in the General Assembly.